Soil Values, in collaboration with the Centre for Dryland Agriculture (CDA) of Bayero University Kano, has held a Field Day on Integrated Soil Fertility Management for farmers in Kano and Jigawa.
The training was aimed at helping smallholder farmers restore soil fertility and improve cowpea production.
The trial was conducted on the farm of Ahmad Isa Falali in the Takai area of Kano State.
Four demonstration plots were set up, representing the use of inorganic fertilizers, the farmer’s traditional practices, organic fertilizers and the Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) approach.
Mr Ahmad said the training changed the way he produces cowpea.
He said learning how to make compost, recycle residues and adjust nutrient levels turned the ISFM plot into an open-air classroom for him.
Representing the CDA director of research, Dr. Bassam Abdulrahman said the Field Day was part of the Soil Values project funded by the Government of the Netherlands for ten years.
The project seeks to improve land use in Kano, Jigawa and Bauchi through training for beneficiaries.
A woman farmer, Rayya Abdullahi, said the sessions gave her confidence to manage soil and she hopes to pass the knowledge to women in her group.
The training is part of a ten-year initiative funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands through its Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS).
Arogunyo said the programme is implemented by three main partners: the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and Wageningen University & Research (WUR).
He said the programme also includes five scientific partners: the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), AGRA, ICRAF, ISRIC and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).
According to him, the aim is to reduce the yield gap, improve soil fertility, and encourage farmers to return nutrients to the soil to support productivity and food security.
The Soil Values programme focuses on agroecology, inclusive markets and enabling environment.
It also works across clustering, integration, linking, dialogue and analysis and learning.
The programme targets improved fertility and productivity on two million hectares of land in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and northern Nigeria.
It also aims to support 1.5 million farmers, with a focus on women and youth.
With a budget of 100 million euros, the initiative seeks to restore degraded land in the Sahel and reach 1.5 million smallholder farmers.
In Nigeria, 800,000 hectares are expected to be restored, with 600,000 producers as direct beneficiaries.
